Going on a Nile Cruise? Explore These 6 Amazing Sites in Luxor & Aswan

A ship sailing down the stream of the Nile River is the dream of every cruise lover. But what makes this journey down the Nile, the lifeline of Egypt, so unique is its close relation with the ancient Pharaonic civilisation. 

Going on a Nile cruise is an excellent chance to enjoy the river’s flow while learning about ancient Egypt—an experience that could take you over the moon! In this article, we will focus on voyages between the Upper Egyptian cities of Luxor and Aswan, both famous for their awe-striking attractions. We guarantee this will be a different journey down one of the longest rivers in the world. 

Facts about the Nile River

Well, the Nile is the longest river in Africa, that’s for sure. Flowing from south to north through 11 African countries over 6,650 kilometres, the Nile is best associated with Egypt, the downstream country and final stop before the river empties into the Mediterranean. It has two tributaries: the White Nile and the Blue Nile.

The White Nile begins at Lake Victoria, the chief reservoir of the river, in Tanzania and Uganda. The Blue Nile originates at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. The two tributaries merge in Khartoum, Sudan, before the river drains into Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. The Nile River runs through Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Eritrea and South Sudan.   

Egypt: The Gift of the Nile

When the Nile rises, the Earth is joyous, and everyone is glad,

 Every jaw laughs, and every tooth is uncovered.

The Hymn to the Nile flood

The Nile is life to Egypt—without it, Egypt would have been a desert. In ancient Egypt, the Nile River provided the country with fertile soil for the cultivation of crops. The Nile River used to flood in August of every year, making the dry land of Egypt farmable. Ancient Egyptians could grow their food. The Egyptian civilisation flourished on the banks of the Nile River.

The ancient Egyptians believed the Nile was a gift providing them with water they used in almost every aspect of their life, the greatest being to drink! They were very grateful for the Nile that helped bring lush green plants to their vast deserts. With water and food on the table, the ancient Egyptians had every reason to sing the praises of the Nile.

Usually, a flood is not perceived as a gift, but for the ancient Egyptians, it was. The Nile flooding used to leave behind black sediment that the ancient Egyptians used in agriculture. The river also provided the ancient Egyptians with clay, sandstone, granite and limestone, which were used in building.

Papyrus grew on the banks of the Nile River and was later used by the ancient Egyptians to make paper, sandals, and baskets. Believe it or not, they also used papyrus to build boats because wood was scarce. 

The Nile River also served as a major trade route in ancient Egypt. Trade prospered then, and the Nile River was credited for that. The ancient Egyptians used to make cargo, passenger and funeral boats.  

The river was called Aur, meaning “black”—about the black sediment created by the floods. It had the shape of the lotus flower, which symbolizes ancient Egypt. It can be seen in Pharaonic arts and hieroglyphs on many archaeological sites in the Upper Egyptian cities of Luxor and Aswan. 

Taking You on a Nile Cruise from Luxor to Aswan—Many Attractions along the Way! 

Going down the Nile River is like travelling thousands of years back. The five-day cruise from Luxor to Aswan offers tourists magnificent views of many attractions as the boat floats along this popular Nile route. 

Take your seat and have your camera set to capture many photos of monuments and temples standing on the sides of the Nile River. The Nile cruises also make frequent stops along the 200km between Luxor and Aswan. You can also pick a trip from Aswan to Luxor. Where to begin is your choice, but the landmarks you will see are the same. Here, we will focus on some of those highlights along the way. 

The Karnak Temple

On the east bank of the Nile River stands the Karnak Temple, the world’s most incredible open-air museum. This three-in-one temple complex is also where the modern city of Luxor lies today.

The Temple of Amun-Ra is the largest of all three and is in the complex’s centre. As the ancient Egyptians believed, this is where the god and his family lived on Earth. Mut, the wife of Amun-Ra, has her temple in the southernmost part of the complex. Located in the highest north part of this essential religious complex, the precinct of their son Khonsu is the smallest of all temples. 

Stopping for a tour around the Karnak Temple, you will come across the Great Columns—a hallmark of the complex. It is often called the Great Hypostyle Hall, consisting of 134 giant sandstone columns capped by huge papyrus blossoms. Erected during the reign of Seti I, a 19th Dynasty pharaoh, the Great Hypostyle Hall occupies the heart of the Karnak complex. It is enclosed by massive walls that are still intact to a great extent today. 

The Karnak was not only a religious complex in ancient Egypt. It also served as the pharaoh’s treasury, administrative centre, and palace. In summary, the Karnak is the largest temple complex worldwide. 

The Amazing Valley of the Kings

Located on the west side of the Nile River in today’s Luxor, the Valley of the Kings is a World Heritage Site, the cemetery of the ancient Egyptian kings and their families and the burial place of their belongings! 

This is where the bodies of kings from the 18th to the 20th dynasties, from Thutmose I to Ramses X, were laid to rest. We are talking about a place that served as a graveyard for nearly 500 years! The Valley of the Kings houses 62 known tombs with varied architectural designs.  

Yes, the tombs were not built according to a standard blueprint. Their architectural features and designs are different. The Valley of the Kings includes small tombs with only a few compartments and large graves with many side rooms. Some tombs have sloping corridors, and others feature bent axes. You will get a satisfying dose of varied architectural designs!

Did you know that ancient Egyptians believed in life after death? That’s why the Valley of the Kings was designed to serve as a royal necropolis and as a cult place where rituals that, according to the ancient Egyptians, ensured eternal life were performed. It is a genuinely breathtaking burial place!

The Temple of Hatshepsut

The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is a stand-out mortuary temple and a masterpiece of ancient architecture. Standing opposite the city of Luxor, it was constructed to commemorate the achievements of the 18th Dynasty queen. 

Built into a cliff face, the Temple of Hatshepsut includes sanctuaries to honour the gods relevant to the queen of Egypt. The walls of the Temple of Hatshepsut feature reliefs that not only depict the queen’s life and reign but exhibit images of the gods. 

Design-wise, the Temple of Hatshepsut is unique. It is made up of three massive terraces that lead to the main entrance. A wall with one entrance gate encloses the lower terrace. Featuring impressive inscriptions, 22 columns are arranged in two rows along the halls of the terrace.

The middle terrace has 15 columns arranged in a single row at the north entrance. To the west, another portico houses 22 columns in two rows. Twenty-six columns are found in the forefront entrance of the upper terrace. 

The Abu Simbel Temple

If you stop in Aswan, you should visit the Abu Simbel Temple. Pharaoh Ramses II established this historic site of two temples during the 19th Dynasty, the 13th century BC, for the ancient Egyptians to worship him after his death. 

The twin temples feature four colossal rock-cut statues of Ramses II on the front. The unique look was due to an earthquake in 27 BC that caused the head of Ramses II to fall. The entire complex was moved to its current place to save it from the high water levels in Lake Nasser, the Aswan Dam Reservoir. 

The four seated statues flank the entrance to the complex, two on each side. What is most impressive about the complex’s interior is its alignment with the rays of the rising sun twice yearly on 22 February and 22 October to illuminate the statues of Ramses II. It would be fascinating if you happened to be visiting the complex on either day! 

The Kom Ombo Temple

The “Hill of Gold”, the double temple of Kom Ombo, was constructed during the reign of King Ptolemy V from 205 to 180 BC right on the Nile River—it will catch your eyes from your seat on the cruise ship!

This limestone temple was dedicated to ancient Egyptian deities: the crocodile-headed Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus. The symmetrical design of the temple is something to behold—with two entrances, two hypostyle halls and two sanctuaries dedicated to the two gods. The double temple has two matching sectors next to each other and was built as a rectangle. 

The Philae Temple

The island-based temple in Aswan is truly a must-see. Built during the rule of Ptolemy II, the Philae Temple is one of the well-preserved Ptolemaic sites in Egypt nowadays. The Philae Temple was dedicated to Isis, Osiris, and Horus. 

The walls of the temple feature scenes from the mythology of resurrection, including Isis bringing Osiris back to life. Inscriptions on the walls also depict Isis giving birth to Horus and mummifying Osiris after his death.

The Philae Temple has two towers connected through an open forecourt. The first pylon holds two towers, while the second contains a hypostyle hall with ten columns. The hypostyle hall leads to the burial place of the deity Isis.

Greek for “the end,” Philae has all the charm that brings visitors back again. It is never the end with the Philae Temple. Remember to attend the Sound and Light Show when stopping here—this is a true wonder to behold!

A Nile Cruise Has It All!

A relaxing journey down the Nile River alongside many of ancient Egypt’s archaeological wonders is an unforgettable experience during your visit to Luxor and Aswan. 

You could not ask for more! Explore the two upper Egyptian cities while enjoying the allure of the Nile River, and you will have many pictures to take and share. This journey could time-travel visitors for thousands of years in history. So, relax on your seat and prepare to soak it all up!